Clamping implement



July 2, 1946. H. T. JQNES 2,403,180

' CLAMPING IMPLEMENT Filed July 14, 1945 Inventor Harold Johk WWW IPatented July 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMPING IMPLEMENTHarold T. Jones, Vallejo, Calif.

Application July 14, 1945, Serial No. 605,014 3 Claims. (01. 294-104 Myinvention relates to improvements in clamping implements for handlingsheet material, such as sheet metal, card board, sheet plastics, woodveneer, etc., the primary object in view being to provide a simplyconstructed, easily manipulated implement for gripping such sheetmaterials and removing the same from packs without bending or marringthe same.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, allof which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will bereadily understood when the succeeding description and claims are readwith reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of thisspecification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved clamping implement,in its preferred embodiment,

Figure 2 is a view in edge elevation,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of clamping cam.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, my improved clamping implement inthe illustrated embodiment thereof comprises a flat body I substantiallyhook-shaped and which includes a beak 2 and a relatively longer jaw 3having a straight clamping edge 4, parallel with the opposed edge 5 ofthe beak 2, and an opposite edge 6 converging forwardly toward the edge4 and whereby said jaw is tapered edgewise gradually to a sharp frontedge I. The body I is formed, for lightness in weight, of two like sidesections 8, 9 laterally spaced and connected forwardly of the bightportions Ill thereof, and along the clamping edge 4 by a flat web II.

A movable, solid jaw I 2, having a rounded rear end I3, has said rearend fitted betweenthe sections 8, 9 and at the front end of the beak 2for swinging movement of said movable jaw on a transverse pivot pin I4,said movable jaw, as will be understood, being swingable in the plane ofthe jaw 3 toward and from the latter. The movable jaw I2 is taperededgewise in the same manner as the jaw 3 and to be closed on the jaw 3with its front end resting on the front end of the last-named jaw. Anedge notch I 5 in the rear end I3 of the movable jaw I2 coacts with atransverse pin I6 fixed suitably in the beak 2, and limits movement ofsaid movable jaw I2 away from the jaw 3.

A spring metal rod II extending alongside the beak 2 and the movable jawI2 tensions said jaw 2 against movement away from the jaw 3, said rodbeing slidably extended through a pair of lateral ears I8,'I9 on saidbeak 2 and similarly extended through an ear 20 on the movable jaw I2.An eye 2| on the rear end of said rod I'I provides a hand grip. forremoving said rod from the ears I8, I9, 20 for replacement purposes.

A bar-like operating lever 22 for the movable jaw I2 is suitably fixedat one end thereof to said jaw to extend rearwardly alongside the body Iand is provided with a right-angled thumb piece 23.

A T-shaped handle 24 extends rearwardly from the rear end of the body Iwith one end suitably secured in a, bushing 25 forming part of saidbody.

Immediately in the rear of the movable jaw I2, a cam26 is fitted betweenthe sections 8, 9 for clamping coaction with the clamping edge 4 of thejaw 3, by operation of a lever arm 21 extending rearwardly from the cam,and of the body I, and equipped with thumb piece 28. The cam 26 issuitably pivoted, as by a cross pin 29, between said sections 8, 9 forengagement with said clamping edge 4 when the lever arm 21 is movedtoward the handle 24. As will be noted in Figure 1, when the movable jawI2 is closed on the jaw 3, said jaw I2 together with the jaw 3 forms asharp pointed wedge with the front end of the movable jaw I2 extendingslightly past the front end of the jaw 3.

The use and operation of my improved clamping implement will be readilyunderstood. When it is desired to select and remove a sheet of materialfrom a pack, not shown, the front end of the movable jaw I2 is insertedin between the proper sheets over the top, or over one side, of thesheet to be removed, and the jaws 3, I2 then pushed into the pack sothat the selected sheet can be clamped betweenthe same, the movable jawI2 being swung away from the jaw 3, the proper distance required, and bythumb pressure on the lever arm 22. Upon release of the lever arm 22,the spring I! will act to close the jaw I2 and clamp the sheet betweenthe jaws 3, I2 to be pulled from the pack. If more positive grippingaction is required, the implement may be positioned relative to thesheet so that the cam 26 may be used to clamp the sheet to the clampingedge 4 of the jaw 3, it being understood that the cam 26 may be operatedinto clamping relation by pressure of the thumb on the thumb piece 28The foregoing will, it is believed, sufl'lce to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modificationwithout departing from the inventive concept, and right is hereinreserved to such modifications'as fall'withinath'e; scope of theappended claims; r a.

What I claim is:

1. In an implement of the character described,-

a, flat-sided hook-shaped body comprising a bight portion, a beakportion and a relatively longer "bar-like jaw-forming member extending.from rod extending alongside said beak portion and movable jaw andattached thereto, said rod yieldingly urging the movable jaw toward saidmember into engagement therewith, said member and movable jaw beingtapered edgewise to form when the movable jaw is engaged with saidmember a wedge, a handle extending from said bight portion, andmanipulative means to swing said movable jaw away from said membercomprising a bar-like operating lever fixed at one end to said movablejaw to-extendalongside the same and said body and provided with a thumbpiece for exerting pressure on said lever by the thumb of a handgrasping said handle.

said bight portion with opposed edges spaceda apart and parallel, amovable bar-like jaw piv-' movement toward and from said member, aresillient rod extending alongside said beak portion and movable jaw andattached thereto, said rod yieldingly urging the movable jaw toward saidmember into engagement therewith, said member and movable jaw beingtapered edgewise to form when the movable jaw is engaged with saidmember a wedge, ahandle extending from said bight portion, andmanipulative means to swing said 1 movable jaw away from said member.

2. In an implement of the character described,

ment toward and from'said member, a resilient oted at one end to saidbeak portion for swinging;

3, In an implement of the character described,

a flat -sided hook-shaped body comprising a bight portion, a beakportion and a relatively longer bar-like jaw-forming member extendingfrom said" bight portion with opposed edges spaced apart and parallel, amovable bar-like jaw pivoted at one end to said beak portion forswinging movement toward and from said memben-a resilient rod extendingalongside said beak portion and movable jaw andattached thereto, saidrod yieldingly urging the movablejaw toward said member into engagementtherewith, said member 7 and movable jaw being tapered edgewisetoform awhen the movable jaw is engaged with said member a wedge, a handleextending from said'bight portion, manipulative means toswing saidmovber in the rear of said movable jaw, and manipulative means to rocksaid cam member, r

: JONES.

